Midwifery & Women’s Health

Marie Furuta, PhD，RN, RM, MN, Professor

The Japanese social environment related to women’s lives has changed and a variety of perinatal issues such as a low birth rate and an increase of child abuse/neglect are widely discussed. Therefore, midwives are focused as health professionals to support women planning their healthy lives as well as delivering and nurturing children. The responsibilities of current midwives are larger and wider than ever. Graduates of the Midwifery & Women’s Health area are prepared for careers as researchers and midwives with advanced knowledge and skills.

Research and Education

The Midwifery & Women’s Health area has two main fields: the midwifery field and the women’s health field. We also work on research that focuses on midwives’ activities and midwifery educational systems at home and abroad.

The midwifery field provides an environment where graduates can achieve advanced midwifery theory, knowledge, and skills to independently diagnose and support women and infants in a normal perinatal period. Moreover, graduates also have the ability, based on evidence-based midwifery, to recognize and diagnose potential problems and complications in high-risk pregnant women and children. Students research and develop an advanced midwifery education system and a new perinatal system.

The women’s health field explores advanced diagnoses and the support systems associated with women’s reproductive health, rights, and evolving reproductive medicine. Students gain the knowledge and skills necessary to provide and develop proper and novel clinical care for individuals, families, and communities in complex situations.